Fostering Social Entrepreneurs in Organizations: Nurturing of Social Intrapreneurial Behaviors While Addressing Employees' Concerns

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of social entrepreneurship as a transformative force in the corporate landscape has prompted organizations to explore ways to integrate social impact initiatives into their core business strategies (Peredo and McLean 2006; Vázquez-Parra et al. 2023). One way is to encourage employees to suggest social entrepreneurial ideas within the organization, which could be a pivotal step toward achieving this objective.  Encoring employees to suggest new and innovative products and services has been well recognized in former studies, known as intrapreneurship or corporate entrepreneurship (Antoncic and Hisrich 2003; Klein and Zwilling 2022‏).  Intrapreneurial activities are usually aimed at gaining revenue or saving on costs for the firms (Blanka 2019). But it can also contribute to enhancing employee motivation and performance (Ben-Hador and Klein 2020).

As such, less attention has been given to the role of intrapreneurial activities that aim to benefit society and whether organizations are willing to support or inhibit innovations that may not contribute directly to the firm. Fostering social entrepreneurship within the organization can yield numerous advantages. These intrapreneurial activities often offer fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to complex social and environmental challenges. By aligning business objectives with social impact, organizations can enhance their reputation, engage stakeholders, and enhance new market opportunities. Moreover, social entrepreneurship initiatives can encourage employee ethical concerns, attract talented employees, and enhance overall corporate culture, resulting in a more motivated and engaged workforce.

Conversely, employees suggesting social entrepreneurial ideas to their firms may encounter notable difficulties. Among these challenges are organizational resistance, resource allocation, and alignment with existing business strategies. One of the primary hurdles is the potential resistance from traditional corporate structures that prioritize profit maximization. Another challenge lies in ensuring that social entrepreneurial efforts align with the firm's values (Cheliatsidou et al. 2023). Conflicts may arise if proposed initiatives clash with existing business strategies, causing tension and confusion among employees. Moreover, tracking and measuring the social impact of these initiatives can be challenging, making it difficult to assess their effectiveness accurately.

Nurturing social entrepreneurs within organizations presents a promising path toward aligning business interests with social impact. While the benefits are substantial, the challenges cannot be underestimated. Addressing these difficulties requires a delicate balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. Therefore, we will discuss the challenges employees may face when promoting social intrapreneurial activities in the current Sepcial Issue.

References

Antoncic, B., and Hisrich, R. D. (2003). Clarifying the intrapreneurship concept. Journal of small business and enterprise development, 10(1), 7-24.‏

Ben Hador, B., and Klein, G. (2020). Act your age? Age, intrapreneurial behavior, social capital and performance. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 42(2), 349-365.‏

Blanka, C. (2019). An individual-level perspective on intrapreneurship: a review and ways forward. Review of Managerial Science, 13(5), 919-961.‏

Cheliatsidou, A., Sariannidis, N., Garefalakis, A., Passas, I., and Spinthiropoulos, K. (2023). Exploring Attitudes towards Whistleblowing in Relation to Sustainable Municipalities. Administrative Sciences, 13(9), 199.‏

Klein, G., and Zwilling, M. (2022). Leader-member exchange theory and its relationship to teachers' intrapreneurial behaviour, teachers' work engagement and entrepreneurial orientation. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 32(2), 199-221.‏

Peredo, A. M., and McLean, M. (2006). Social entrepreneurship: A critical review of the concept. Journal of World Business, 41(1), 56-65.‏

Vázquez-Parra, J. C., Alonso-Galicia, P. E., Cruz-Sandoval, M., Suárez-Brito, P., and Carlos-Arroyo, M. (2023). Social Entrepreneurship, Complex Thinking, and Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy: Correlational Study in a Sample of Mexican Students. Administrative Sciences, 13(4), 104.‏

Dr. Galit Klein
Guest Editor

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• entrepreneurship
• entrepreneurs
• intrapreneurial behavior
• employees